https://www.scmp.com/rss/508150/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Alice Yan Alice Yan One of China’s most prestigious universities has apologised and withdrawn a mini-film made to celebrate its 130th anniversary amid accusations of gender bias. On March 31, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) released the film to mark its coming birthday. The institution was founded on April 6, 1896, by Sheng Xuanhuai, an important minister and an entrepreneur in the late Qing dynasty (1636–1912). The video, No 800 of Dongchuan Road, was named after the address of the vast Minhang campus of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3348778/renowned-china-university-apologises-mini-film-depicting-career-man-family-focused-woman?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3348778/renowned-china-university-apologises-mini-film-depicting-career-man-family-focused-woman?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 10:00:08 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang A troupe of left-behind rural women in central China has gained online fame through group live streams orchestrated by local Gen Z managers. In Junying village in Henan province, more than 20 women with an average age of 60 wear sunglasses and gloves, colourful jackets and dance with props in a disused courtyard. But this is no ordinary square dancing. In group live-streams, the aunties take on the viral dance routines favoured by younger internet users, while viewers send virtual gifts and... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3347686/china-left-behind-aunties-known-senior-girl-group-gain-popularity-charm-dance-skills?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3347686/china-left-behind-aunties-known-senior-girl-group-gain-popularity-charm-dance-skills?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 06:00:09 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang The sole female senior officer aboard China’s Liaoning aircraft carrier has urged women to put aside their gender and focus on professionalism and responsibility. On March 7, during the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) in Beijing, a poised and confident female military deputy in uniform captured nationwide attention. Zhu Yuemeng, 36, from a modest family in Jilin province, northeastern China, is a naval lieutenant colonel and serves as a political instructor on board the Liaoning aircraft... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3346243/china-liaoning-warships-sole-female-senior-officer-urges-fellow-women-prioritise-professional-skills?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3346243/china-liaoning-warships-sole-female-senior-officer-urges-fellow-women-prioritise-professional-skills?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Mar 2026 01:00:10 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang In ancient China, patriarchal and feudal norms limited women’s control over reproduction, forcing many to endure risky contraceptive methods. According to the Classic of Mountains and Seas, one of the earliest known contraceptives in China was a herb called Gurong. Its taste was extremely bitter, its leaves resembled orchids and its roots were similar to those of the balloon flower. During the pre-Qin period (2100–221), people believed that consuming Gurong, a plant that only bloomed but did not... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3345435/ancient-chinese-women-used-crude-contraceptives-eating-tadpoles-ingesting-mercury?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3345435/ancient-chinese-women-used-crude-contraceptives-eating-tadpoles-ingesting-mercury?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Mar 2026 10:00:09 +0000 Kevin McSpadden Kevin McSpadden From the 18th century onwards, female authors gained unprecedented prominence, from Jane Austen and the Brontë sisters in the West to the rise of significant women writers in Qing-era China (1644-1912). The increasing prominence of female Chinese authors was driven by Dream of the Red Chamber, an 18th-century masterpiece by Cao Xueqin, widely considered the pinnacle of Chinese fiction and one of the four great classical novels of Chinese history. Cao’s book was so important that a cottage... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3345850/china-qing-era-saw-rise-female-authors-poets-despite-broad-restrictions-women-arts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3345850/china-qing-era-saw-rise-female-authors-poets-despite-broad-restrictions-women-arts?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Mar 2026 06:00:13 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang Two women in southern China who have lived together for 13 years have gone viral and sparked an online discussion about female cohabitation. Liang Shichun, 59, and her best friend Li Yan, 51, bought a house together in Nanning, Guangxi province, and share everything from household chores to the mortgage. Both women had unhappy marriages and chose not to remarry, instead opting to live together and support each other. Their friendship, which has lasted more than two decades, included Li being... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3345303/china-women-living-together-years-spark-discussions-female-cohabitation-and-support?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3345303/china-women-living-together-years-spark-discussions-female-cohabitation-and-support?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Mar 2026 10:00:07 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang Famous Taiwan singer and actress Annie Yi has called for an end to “female competition”, saying that “being 58 years old is nothing to be ashamed of”. The comments have won her widespread praise online. On February 26, Yi, 58, posted a message calling on women to “stop female competition”, sparking lively online discussion. She said that after attending events, she often sees comments comparing women as if their appearance and age are the only things that matter. However, she rarely sees the... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3345344/taiwan-actress-58-praised-youthful-looks-advocates-against-female-competition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3345344/taiwan-actress-58-praised-youthful-looks-advocates-against-female-competition?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Mar 2026 10:00:10 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang A businesswoman from central China who was raised in a family that prized sons over daughters has built her own e-commerce fashion empire. Huang Xuanni, 44, grew up in a rural family in Binzhou, Hunan province, where she was the overlooked sixth daughter among seven children. Her parents, who lavished attention on their only son, left Huang to eat alone on the doorstep and rarely remembered her name. Mainland reports recount a heartbreaking moment in her childhood when her parents abandoned her... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3344619/china-entrepreneur-abandoned-child-owns-fashion-brand-generates-us36-million-sales?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3344619/china-entrepreneur-abandoned-child-owns-fashion-brand-generates-us36-million-sales?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Mar 2026 01:00:09 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang A traditional ceremony in a village in eastern China, where men bow and kowtow in reverence to their ancestors while women watch from the sidelines, has ignited debate over gender roles in cultural practices. In February, a viral video captured a compelling scene from Dalei village in Yanggu county, Shandong province, during the Chinese New Year holiday. The footage shows more than 600 men from the Lei clan lined up along a red carpet in front of the ancestral hall. Arranged by age and lineage,... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3344612/china-village-holds-ceremony-where-600-men-bow-homage-ancestors-igniting-gender-debate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3344612/china-village-holds-ceremony-where-600-men-bow-homage-ancestors-igniting-gender-debate?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Feb 2026 10:00:11 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang Garlic occupies a unique position in Chinese wedding traditions and broader cultural beliefs. In parts of Guangdong province, brides traditionally include garlic in their dowries, as it is believed to ward off evil spirits, dispel negative energy, and enhance feng shui in southern China. China stands as the largest producer and consumer of garlic globally, which serves as a foundational aromatic ingredient, alongside ginger and spring onions, in most regional Chinese cuisines. In traditional... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3343505/how-garlic-brides-dowries-china-promotes-frugality-and-household-management?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3343505/how-garlic-brides-dowries-china-promotes-frugality-and-household-management?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Feb 2026 10:21:50 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu German lingerie brand Triumph, which left the mainland Chinese market recently, has ignited a social media discussion about the rising trend of women opting for comfort instead of beauty when it comes to underwear. December 31, 2025, marked the last day of the 139-year-old lingerie brand’s time in mainland China. It announced its withdrawal in November and closed all its bricks-and-mortar and online shops within a month. Many people believe the exit resulted from the brand’s failure to keep up... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3342484/china-exit-top-german-lingerie-brand-shows-women-prefer-comfort-rejecting-male-gaze?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3342484/china-exit-top-german-lingerie-brand-shows-women-prefer-comfort-rejecting-male-gaze?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Feb 2026 06:00:08 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang An orphan, trained as a cold-hearted assassin, learns what love truly means from a master thief. On a sunny Sunday afternoon, however, she kills her lover, granting him freedom as her final gift. Joyce, from Shenzhen in southern China, played this female killer in a script-killing game, and after a 10-hour plot unfolding, tears streamed down her face upon reaching this ending. She is one of many participating in the recently booming romantic script-killing games in China. In traditional... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3342530/china-women-pay-companions-role-playing-games-spark-love-commercialisation-debate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3342530/china-women-pay-companions-role-playing-games-spark-love-commercialisation-debate?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Feb 2026 06:00:11 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu China’s Li ethnic group is known for a pottery-making tradition that is historically passed down exclusively to women. The Li people are one of China’s 56 official ethnic groups. They are also the largest indigenous ethnic minority on the southern Chinese island of Hainan. Around 90 per cent of its 1.4 million national population lives on the island. The group had a matriarchal tradition until the mid-20th century, which was reflected in the group’s unique pottery-making customs that lasted for... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3340550/why-china-li-ethnic-groups-6000-year-pottery-tradition-passed-down-exclusively-women?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3340550/why-china-li-ethnic-groups-6000-year-pottery-tradition-passed-down-exclusively-women?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 26 Jan 2026 10:00:13 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang An old Han Chinese wedding custom mandates that the bride brings her own “toilet,” typically filled with red eggs, red dates, and peanuts, which symbolise fertility and abundant blessings. Traditionally linked to filth and unpleasant odours, the chamber pot may seem an unlikely addition to a bride’s dowry. Nevertheless, in many regions of China, particularly rural areas, it was once deemed a standard and essential item for a bride to carry to her new home. Beyond its practical function as a... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3341067/why-old-china-custom-requires-brides-bring-toilet-or-chamber-pot-wedding-ceremony?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3341067/why-old-china-custom-requires-brides-bring-toilet-or-chamber-pot-wedding-ceremony?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 24 Jan 2026 10:00:15 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang China’s Manchu people have quirky child-rearing traditions known as Luocao and Caisheng which include hanging a wooden bow outside the front door when a boy is born, or a red cloth strip for a girl. The Manchu ethnic group, historically known for founding the Qing dynasty (1644–1912), now lives across various regions of China. According to the China Statistical Yearbook 2021, their population exceeds 10 million. In Manchu tradition, the birth of a baby is referred to as luocao, which literally... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3339759/china-manchu-ethnic-group-childbirth-tradition-hangs-bow-and-arrow-boys-red-strip-girls?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3339759/china-manchu-ethnic-group-childbirth-tradition-hangs-bow-and-arrow-boys-red-strip-girls?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Jan 2026 10:00:32 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu A Japanese ramen restaurant has ignited controversy by slapping a ban on Chinese customers, accusing them of being troublemakers. Iekei restaurant in the Western city of Osaka announced on social media on January 4 that it had banned all Chinese people. It said a Chinese person had caused trouble in the restaurant, forcing it to call the police. The post said 90 per cent of the trouble it has with foreigners involves Chinese customers. The move triggered controversy and accusations of racism.... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3339175/japan-ramen-eatery-bans-troublesome-china-customers-charges-lot-more-english-menu?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3339175/japan-ramen-eatery-bans-troublesome-china-customers-charges-lot-more-english-menu?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Jan 2026 01:00:09 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang An uncivilised folk custom in ancient China known as Pai Xi, or “Beating for Joy”, involved striking women with sticks in an attempt to exorcise evil spirits and pray for conception. Pai Xi, also known as Da Sheng, meaning “Beating for Birth”, is believed to have originated in southern China, particularly in Jiangsu and Fujian provinces. It was a fertility ritual that gained popularity during the Song dynasty (960–1279). According to the Records of National Customs of China, in rural areas of... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3339195/china-folk-custom-beats-women-boost-fertility-dire-consequences-if-fail-conceive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3339195/china-folk-custom-beats-women-boost-fertility-dire-consequences-if-fail-conceive?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Jan 2026 10:00:09 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang A 50-year-old Japanese woman, who was mocked for being “ugly” as a child, has shunned cosmetic surgery and spent 13 years taking more than 30,000 selfies to study make-up, skincare and fashion. The ridiculing left Kozue Sakurada with deep emotional scars, but her persistence has inspired countless people online. A male classmate once stared at her and repeated the word “ugly” to her face 10 times. Other boys even made up a parody of a children’s song to mock her large nose. By her early... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3339161/japan-woman-mocked-ugly-looks-resists-cosmetic-surgery-transforms-make?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3339161/japan-woman-mocked-ugly-looks-resists-cosmetic-surgery-transforms-make?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Jan 2026 06:00:09 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan The rags-to-riches story of how Zhou Qunfei rose from humble beginnings in a poor village in central China to become a highly successful businesswoman has been an inspiration for countless migrant workers across the country. The 56-year-old founder of the touch-screen maker Lens Technology is estimated to have a net worth of 110 billion yuan (US$16 billion). She claimed second place in the 2025 Hurun Female Entrepreneurs Ranking List issued by Hurun Institute. Zhou first came to attention in... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3338905/zhou-qunfei-ex-security-guard-rises-become-worlds-richest-self-made-woman-entrepreneur?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3338905/zhou-qunfei-ex-security-guard-rises-become-worlds-richest-self-made-woman-entrepreneur?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Jan 2026 10:00:11 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu Five years after she lost her left arm and leg in a car crash, a Chinese influencer started a shoe-cleaning business that provides jobs for disabled people. Weng Xinyi has continued to move people with her optimistic life attitude. The 30-year-old’s left arm and leg were amputated after her friend crashed a Porsche sports car in 2020. She suffered three heart attacks and 14 rounds of surgery to survive. Weng’s boyfriend left her and her friend, who survived the crash intact, stopped paying for... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3339147/china-woman-who-lost-limbs-car-crash-assigns-disabled-staff-jobs-based-their-strengths?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3339147/china-woman-who-lost-limbs-car-crash-assigns-disabled-staff-jobs-based-their-strengths?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 10 Jan 2026 10:00:10 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang A Chinese civil service exam tutoring company has sparked controversy by claiming that they can help clients pass the test and then demand an additional 200,000 yuan (US$29,000) in bride price. On December 28, a netizen posted a video claiming that a civil service exam tutoring institution in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, northern China, had used a controversial banner to promote its business. The Inner Mongolia branch of Beijing Chongzheng Education Consulting Co., Ltd., was established in October... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3338287/china-tutoring-schools-promotion-links-civil-service-exam-success-higher-bride-prices?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3338287/china-tutoring-schools-promotion-links-civil-service-exam-success-higher-bride-prices?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 10 Jan 2026 01:00:09 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu Taiwan actress and ex-model Jean Wang escaped an unhappy and abusive marriage to rebuild a career using her master culinary skills. Wang, 55, debuted as a model at the age of 15. She was once hailed as Taiwan’s most beautiful woman and was soon snapped up by the film industry. She played a main character in the 1993 Hong Kong film The East is Red together with legendary actresses Brigitte Lin and Joey Wong. She also played an important supporting character in the wuxia film series Once Upon a... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3338274/ex-taiwan-model-actress-jean-wang-ends-abusive-marriage-excels-culinary-arts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3338274/ex-taiwan-model-actress-jean-wang-ends-abusive-marriage-excels-culinary-arts?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Jan 2026 10:00:12 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu Li Shaofen, one of China’s first female basketball players, has joined the country’s basketball hall of fame. Li, 89, is also known as the wife of Zhong Nanshan, the pulmonologist who became a household name as a leading adviser in managing the Covid-19 pandemic. She was born in southern China’s Guangdong province in 1936. She was a main player of China’s first national women’s basketball team in the 1950s. As a teenager, Li was selected into the national team in 1952. Li played both centre and... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3338157/china-basketball-hall-fame-honours-pioneer-who-wife-renowned-infectious-disease-expert?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3338157/china-basketball-hall-fame-honours-pioneer-who-wife-renowned-infectious-disease-expert?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Jan 2026 10:00:11 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang A traditional custom in northern China known as “hiding from the lanterns” requires that newly married women leave their husband’s home and avoid the groom’s family lantern on their first Lantern Festival after marriage. In China, lanterns are commonly seen as symbols of light and hope. However, during the Lantern Festival, celebrated on the fifteenth day of the first month in the lunar calendar, they become a taboo for newly married women in some areas. In a tradition popularly known as... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3337785/why-china-custom-requires-new-wife-leave-husbands-home-hide-family-lantern?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3337785/why-china-custom-requires-new-wife-leave-husbands-home-hide-family-lantern?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Jan 2026 10:00:11 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu A former policewoman in China is shining on stage as a stand-up comedian, sharing stories that address stereotypes about women in law enforcement. The comic is also using the limelight to teach women how to protect themselves. The 36-year-old uses the nickname “Hotpot” because of her love for the dish and her previous work habit of remaining anonymous. From the age of 22 to 34, Hotpot was a border policewoman in southwestern China’s Yunnan province. She was born in a village in the province’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3337631/ex-china-policewoman-addresses-stereotypes-about-women-police-work-stand-comedy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3337631/ex-china-policewoman-addresses-stereotypes-about-women-police-work-stand-comedy?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 03 Jan 2026 06:00:14 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang A unique wedding ritual among China’s Bao’an ethnic group known as “flogging the father-in-law” sees the family of the groom symbolically whip the bride’s father 20 times. As he endures his “punishment”, the bride’s father kneels to apologise for “failing to properly discipline his daughter”. The Bao’an ethnic group primarily lives in Gansu province in northwestern China and has a population of around 24,000. They practise Islam and speak Banan, which belongs to the Altaic language family. They... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3337447/china-baoan-ethnic-groups-ritual-playfully-whips-brides-dad-not-disciplining-daughter?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3337447/china-baoan-ethnic-groups-ritual-playfully-whips-brides-dad-not-disciplining-daughter?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 Jan 2026 06:00:11 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan A woman undertaker in China has trended on social media thanks to the stark contrast between her good looks and her job of dealing with the dead. Pan Meili, in her 30s, has been embalming bodies for 15 years since she graduated from the Changsha Social Work College. She majored in funeral services. Pan works at a funeral service franchise in Qingdao, eastern Shandong province, and has served 15,000 families so far, the Xiaoxiang Morning Herald reported. She attracted public attention after she... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3337296/china-woman-undertaker-criticised-disrespecting-dead-wearing-make-work?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3337296/china-woman-undertaker-criticised-disrespecting-dead-wearing-make-work?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Dec 2025 10:00:08 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan A woman in central China who was lying naked while awaiting a massage at a spa was shocked when a male therapist appeared, and she refused his services. Following her refusal she was mocked by the manager of the spa for being “ignorant”. The incident unfolded on December 12 at Yushiman Hi-tech Anti-ageing Centre in Changsha, Hunan province. The customer, surnamed Huang, undressed and lay on her stomach on a bed in anticipation of a shoulder and neck massage, Fengmang News reported. Huang said... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3336924/china-woman-shocked-find-male-therapist-spa-appointment-mocked-being-ignorant?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3336924/china-woman-shocked-find-male-therapist-spa-appointment-mocked-being-ignorant?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 27 Dec 2025 10:00:08 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang China’s Dai ethnic minority have an unusual way of making romantic connections. Women make matches by taking chickens to the market during Dai New Year in the hope of attracting suitors, using the birds as matchmaking tools. “Chicken as a Matchmaker” is the Chinese translation of a courtship custom practised by the Dai ethnic group in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan province, southwestern China. The Dai, whose estimated population is 1.3 million, primarily live in the Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3336789/how-china-dai-women-use-chickens-matchmaking-tool-find-husbands-reject-unwanted-suitors?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3336789/how-china-dai-women-use-chickens-matchmaking-tool-find-husbands-reject-unwanted-suitors?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 25 Dec 2025 10:00:09 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang A member of the Japanese girl pop group Xtraordinary Girls (XG) has come out as transmasculine non-binary and revealed that she recently underwent breast removal surgery. The seven-member idol group has made global waves with their bold blend of hip-hop and R&B, plus retro visuals inspired by Y2K and Harajuku styles. Since their debut in March 2022, they have gained more than 4.5 million social media followers, with fans praising their “strong female energy” and lyrics. The youngest member,... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3336008/japan-girl-pop-group-member-comes-out-transmasculine-non-binary-after-breast-removal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3336008/japan-girl-pop-group-member-comes-out-transmasculine-non-binary-after-breast-removal?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Dec 2025 01:00:08 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang A Chinese woman who worked as an art director made headlines after quitting her job to become a professional combat athlete, ultimately achieving the milestone of being China’s first female participant in the World Slap Fighting Championship. Ding Miao, 33, first majored in oil painting at the Central Academy of Fine Arts, one of the most prestigious art schools in China. After graduation, she established a successful career in the gaming industry, serving as an art director and earning an... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3337093/ex-painter-china-first-woman-competitor-world-slap-contest-says-helps-confront-fears?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3337093/ex-painter-china-first-woman-competitor-world-slap-contest-says-helps-confront-fears?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 Dec 2025 06:00:15 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang A 72-year-old grandmother in Taiwan has stunned the internet by donning a bikini and showcasing her toned muscles at a recent bodybuilding competition, demonstrating that age is just a number and igniting a wave of admiration online. Dubbed the “bodybuilding grandma,” Lin Sui-tzu, 72, from Taipei, took the stage at the 2025 President’s Cup Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships. As a grandmother of five, she competed in the over-70 category, impressing judges and the audience with her firm... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3335948/bikini-clad-taiwan-bodybuilding-grandma-72-flaunts-toned-muscles-competition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3335948/bikini-clad-taiwan-bodybuilding-grandma-72-flaunts-toned-muscles-competition?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Dec 2025 01:00:09 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang A concerned mother in China has revealed that her local authorities are requiring all post-partum women to report when they had their last menstrual period. The request has sparked a backlash over privacy concerns and abuse of power. On December 2, an unidentified new mother in Xuanwei, Yunnan province, southwestern China, raised concerns on social media after revealing that local authorities were requiring all new mothers to report the dates of their “last menstrual period”. According to a... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3335178/women-china-community-chat-group-required-share-menstrual-dates-raises-privacy-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3335178/women-china-community-chat-group-required-share-menstrual-dates-raises-privacy-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Dec 2025 06:00:11 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan A female bodyguard, assigned by the Chinese government to protect the French first lady during her official visit with her husband to China in early December, went viral on social media for her tough and professional demeanour. Known by her pseudonym, Yan Yuexia is referred to by Chinese internet users as “the most beautiful bodyguard,” although her appearance is one of many strengths, as reported by the news portal The Paper. While Brigitte Macron took part in public events in Beijing and... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3335870/china-most-beautiful-shaolin-trained-bodyguard-spotlight-during-french-president-visit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3335870/china-most-beautiful-shaolin-trained-bodyguard-spotlight-during-french-president-visit?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Dec 2025 10:00:09 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang A harsh folk saying from ancient China goes, “It is better to marry a widow than a divorced woman,” or ning qu gua fu, bu qu sheng qi in Chinese. The expression reflects the rigid and often brutal moral standards that historically governed women’s lives. Literally, the phrase suggests that a man would rather marry a widow than a woman who had been cast off by her husband. The term sheng qi referred to a wife who was still alive but had been dismissed, implying that she was at fault or carried... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3334390/why-chinese-believe-its-better-marry-widow-divorced-woman-relation-morality?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3334390/why-chinese-believe-its-better-marry-widow-divorced-woman-relation-morality?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 07 Dec 2025 06:00:11 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan A leading parenting platform in China has sparked discomfort among expectant fathers with feeds such as “her body has become the shape of S” and “you can have some sex at this stage,” leading many to voice their complaints on social media. An internet user, whose wife is 22 weeks pregnant, shared that both he and his wife are registered members of Baby Tree, an app that caters to families with pregnant women and infants. According to the Xiaoxiang Morning Herald, the couple regularly receive... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3335224/breasts-will-be-larger-china-expectant-dads-voice-discomfort-over-parenting-app-advice?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3335224/breasts-will-be-larger-china-expectant-dads-voice-discomfort-over-parenting-app-advice?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Dec 2025 10:00:10 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang A gay man in northern China who married his boyfriend’s sister to secure relocation compensation died in a traffic accident, sparking a bitter dispute over his estate between his wife, his lover and his parents. Xu Tian, a 48-year-old Beijing native and senior executive at a state-owned company, had been in a 10-year relationship with his boyfriend, Xue Chong, a doctor two years his junior. Neighbours said the gay couple often posed as father and son in public. Both families knew about their... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3334358/china-wife-gay-husband-contests-estate-against-his-lover-and-parents-after-mans-death?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3334358/china-wife-gay-husband-contests-estate-against-his-lover-and-parents-after-mans-death?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Dec 2025 06:00:10 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan A menswear company in China has found itself in hot water over a laundry care tag which allegedly discriminates against women. “Please give it to your beloved woman, she knows everything,” reads the tag in both Chinese and English. It does not carry any washing instructions but two QR codes linking to the company’s account on social media. The item of clothing, a coat, is made by Jiangsu-based Gu Zhuo Kang Zheng Garment Company that owns brands such as Labour Union, according to a report by... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3334204/china-mens-clothing-brand-slammed-laundry-care-tag-please-give-it-your-beloved-woman?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3334204/china-mens-clothing-brand-slammed-laundry-care-tag-please-give-it-your-beloved-woman?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Dec 2025 01:00:12 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang In modern-day office politics, Chinese people use the phrase “wearing small shoes” to describe someone who abuses their power or position to deliberately make things difficult for others. The term originates from an ancient marriage folklore in which the bride was forced to wear embroidered shoes that were intentionally made too small to torment her. Shoes hold a deep significance in Chinese marriages and wedding ceremonies. A pair represents a couple staying together in harmony, symbolising... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3332656/what-chinese-phrase-wearing-small-shoes-means-and-its-connection-painful-bridal-shoes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3332656/what-chinese-phrase-wearing-small-shoes-means-and-its-connection-painful-bridal-shoes?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 22 Nov 2025 06:00:11 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang A same-sex couple from Taiwan welcomed four babies through surrogacy in Mexico, sparking an online backlash with accusations of “buying babies” and “selfishness”. The pair, a space designer surnamed Liu and his husband Lin, married in 2022. Taiwan legalised same-sex marriage in 2019, becoming the first in Asia to do so. On November 11, the couple shared a video announcing the arrival of their four babies via surrogacy and said they had decided to document their children’s journey. Lin revealed... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3333218/buying-babies-taiwan-gay-couples-surrogacy-produces-4-infants-sparks-online-backlash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3333218/buying-babies-taiwan-gay-couples-surrogacy-produces-4-infants-sparks-online-backlash?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 22 Nov 2025 01:00:12 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang A man from southern Japan who was bullied as a child spent more than 100 million yen (US$650,000) on plastic surgery to transform himself into what he calls “the world’s most beautiful person”. Allen, 33, from Kochi prefecture, was taunted for his laugh lines and gentle personality throughout his school years, according to the Japanese media outlet Matomedia. His classmates would overlook his desk during cleaning time, pass around nasty notes about him and even poke his head with a compass. As... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3331472/japan-bullying-victim-transforms-worlds-most-beautiful-after-us650000-plastic-surgery?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3331472/japan-bullying-victim-transforms-worlds-most-beautiful-after-us650000-plastic-surgery?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 08 Nov 2025 06:00:10 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang A woman from central China, married to a Saudi man, has faced cyberbullying after sharing her luxurious lifestyle and insights into local culture. Known online as “Saudi Meat Sister,” the 46-year-old influencer boasts 3 million followers and promotes her own fragrance brand on social media. Originally from Wuhan, she grew up in a military family that later became affluent through business ventures, as reported by mainland media outlet Takan. Her sister, a flight attendant for Qatar Airways, has... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3331700/china-woman-married-saudi-man-cyberbullied-sharing-lavish-life-cultural-insights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3331700/china-woman-married-saudi-man-cyberbullied-sharing-lavish-life-cultural-insights?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Nov 2025 06:00:11 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang A Chinese airline has sparked controversy online after it announced plans to hire married women and mothers as flight attendants and call them “air aunties”. On October 22, the Shanghai-based Spring Airlines, China’s first budget carrier, announced openings for “air aunties”, saying they are seeking women aged between 25 and 40, preferably those who are married or with children. Applicants must have at least a bachelor’s degree, be between 162 and 174cm tall and preferably have experience in... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3330761/china-airline-hires-air-aunties-flight-attendants-criticised-disrespectful-label?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3330761/china-airline-hires-air-aunties-flight-attendants-criticised-disrespectful-label?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 02 Nov 2025 01:00:13 +0000 Shzr Ee Tan Shzr Ee Tan In a previous column, I outed my pre-pandemic dating life as a middle-aged newly single Chinese woman in the United Kingdom. Six months into my spreadsheet approach to love (100 daily Tinder swipes, 50 culls and a literacy-and-basic-human-decency filter), however, I decamped to China – on sabbatical, to research xiaolongbao, and for the anthropological thrill of being a shengnu (leftover woman) on home turf (sort of). China greeted me with a shrug. On Tinder and Baihe in Hong Kong, Shenzhen and... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3330839/i-put-myself-shanghai-marriage-market-it-wasnt-pretty?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3330839/i-put-myself-shanghai-marriage-market-it-wasnt-pretty?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 Oct 2025 21:30:08 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu Among China’s 56 ethnic groups, the Lahu ethnic minority stands out for its distinct traditions, such as women shaving their heads before marriage and locals drowning pigs at funerals. Originally, the Lahu people were nomads from the Qinghai Lake region in present-day northwestern China. During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States period (770 BC - 221 BC), they migrated southward and gradually settled in what is now Yunnan province. According to 2021 statistics, the population of the Lahu... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3330531/why-china-lahu-ethnic-women-shave-heads-wedding-day-locals-drown-pigs-during-mourning?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3330531/why-china-lahu-ethnic-women-shave-heads-wedding-day-locals-drown-pigs-during-mourning?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Oct 2025 10:00:13 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu A university graduate gave up her glamorous life in the finance industry to embark on a new journey as an actress, stating that she values freedom above all else. Zeng Shuangyi, 30, gained public attention after taking part in the Chinese talent show Produce Camp 2020. She stood out as the only one among the 101 idol trainees not signed to a talent agency and was also notable for being a graduate of China’s prestigious Peking University. Zeng ranked 75th in her first stage performance and was... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3330391/chinese-university-graduate-quits-finance-job-acting-values-freedom-over-high-salary?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3330391/chinese-university-graduate-quits-finance-job-acting-values-freedom-over-high-salary?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Oct 2025 10:00:14 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang A unique café in Japan is charging 4,000 yen (US$25) for customers to experience being a maid by serving members of staff posing as clients. The quirky new trend launched by a creative team dedicated to maid cosplay culture in Japan has attracted much attention from male customers. This spring the group introduced a pop-up concept called the “Cafe Where You Can Become a Maid”. For 4,000 yen, customers can enjoy a 90-minute immersive experience. While the exact number of daily visitors is... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3329900/japan-cafe-allows-customers-become-maids-serve-staff-us25-attracting-many-men?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3329900/japan-cafe-allows-customers-become-maids-serve-staff-us25-attracting-many-men?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Oct 2025 01:00:09 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang China’s first woman pilot from Tibet who excels in basketball and skateboarding and dreams of becoming the “coolest captain” has captured attention at the Changchun Air Show. On September 20, Gesang Baizhen, the 25-year-old fighter pilot with the Chinese Air Force, took the stage at the air show in northeastern China. According to the mainland media outlet Jimu News, Gesang grew up in a Tibetan family. Her name was inspired by the “flower of the plateau” and “white pearl”. In secondary school,... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3326572/china-first-tibetan-woman-pilot-dreams-becoming-coolest-captain-excels-sport?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3326572/china-first-tibetan-woman-pilot-dreams-becoming-coolest-captain-excels-sport?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Oct 2025 01:00:10 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu Chinese actress Wang Ziwen, renowned for her iconic roles in television dramas, has increasingly adopted a radical lifestyle that resonates with many Chinese women. At 38, Wang is celebrated for her performances in hit Chinese dramas such as Ode to Joy (2016) and Three-Body (2023), the latter adapted by Tencent from the award-winning sci-fi novel The Three-Body Problem. Despite her petite stature, her acting is often acclaimed for its intensity. In Three-Body, her portrayal of young Ye Wenjie –... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3326702/chinese-actress-wang-ziwen-many-mainland-women-embraces-trend-single-motherhood?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3326702/chinese-actress-wang-ziwen-many-mainland-women-embraces-trend-single-motherhood?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Sep 2025 01:00:10 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan The newly emerged climbing companion service at a renowned mountain tour site in China is facing scrutiny due to the significant physical contact between male service providers and their female clients. Videos that have circulated on mainland social media since August depict young, muscular men, hired as climbing companions on Emei Mountain in southwestern Sichuan province, carrying women patrons in various positions – such as in their arms, over their shoulders, or on their backs. Additionally,... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3324845/concerns-rise-over-chinese-male-climbing-companions-carrying-women-massaging-legs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3324845/concerns-rise-over-chinese-male-climbing-companions-carrying-women-massaging-legs?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 20 Sep 2025 06:00:09 +0000